"Константин Бояндин. The Guardian ("Истории Ралиона") " - читать интересную книгу автора

was no question. Nlaminer knew very well that some things are very good
until you tried to understand them better. This was exactly the case.

* * *

They stood on the top of the Ladder. Its size and proportions made it
obvious to call it that way. Its visible part spanned for more than a
hundred feet; eight feet wide, each stair about one foot high, good ladder
for some tall creatures. And how much does it continue underwater ? And why
are there no railings ?
Rhissa sat on the marble stair and studied tiny lines incrusted in the
stone. The outlines were almost effaced, probably due to the fact the Ladder
was several centuries old. There should be a serious reason to erect such a
strange staircase, direct, plain, with no railings.
Nlaminer left the Ladder at once. There was a tunnel leading through
the rock - no more than fifty feet long. Both entrances were wide and high.
He couldn't reach the ceiling of the passage, despite he was six feet tall.
And the carving was very fine. Some runic writings could still be seen, but
the language was unknown.
After searching for a while he found outlines of a well hidden door,
leading somewhere into the depth of the cliff. The door was placed in the
center of the tunnel and was inscribed with a dancing reptile figure.
"Rhissa," called he. "Come here. I have just found something
interesting."
"Nothing," whispered Rhissa after listening to the stone door. "But I
feel someone's presence there. Something... sleeping..."
She closed her eyes. Nlaminer saw rainbow circles all around himself, a
sign of mental sending. He frowned and tried to concentrate on the sending.
The walls of the tunnels boiled, dropped down in large brilliant
tongues of flame and he was left in the middle of nothing.
He turned and turned and turned and there was no end to this slow
movement, in the void with no clues and no sights. Out of nowhere, a huge
distant laughing was heard. The floor appeared from below. It rushed towards
Nlaminer, but unexpectedly slowed down and touched his feet gently. Nlaminer
looked around. If this was the usual mental travel, he should stand where he
was, otherwise he could fall off the cliff when he turned back.
The floor was stone, of very fine polishing, with terrible monster
faces pictured everywhere. Their bloody jaws seemed to move, foam dropping
from the waiting fangs.
The figures appeared all around him. Three huge columns of frozen
water, upon them three tall and enormous creatures, tall enough to be
deities, eyes flaming, weapons clutched in mighty hands.
"I expel you from my domain," said the deep voice from above. "Your
devotees smashed down my altars and temples, and this is a good time to
repay you for my pain."
Creatures seemed to struggle, trying to escape from their unusual
places, but in vain, their muscles bulging, mouths opening but no sounds
came out of them.
"Struggle if you like," the resonant voice added. "Struggle in vain. I
demand that all who pained my people are expelled from here forever."